A 25-YEAR-OLD mother has been found guilty of murdering her four-year-old son because she believed he was gay.

The Oregon jury took a little more than an hour to reach its verdict on Wednesday in the trial of Jessica Dutro. Sentencing was set for April 18.

The Oregonian reports that Zachary Dutro-Boggess died on August 16, 2012, of intestinal tears caused by abdominal trauma. He collapsed at the homeless shelter where his family was living southwest of Portland at which point Dutro called 911. His birthday was just a day earlier.

Zachary died two days after the beating.

In a Facebook message to her boyfriend, Brian Canady, Dutro said the boy was going to be gay and it made her angry.

“He walks and talks like it. Ugh,” she wrote. Dutro said that Canady would have to “work on” Zachary.

Guilty ... Jessica Dutro, left, and Brian Canady.Source:Supplied

Defence lawyer Chris Colburn said the message did not prove any motive on Dutro’s part.

However web searches were also admissible in court and showed that the day Zachary was taken off life support Dutro searched terms such as anger management and parenting classes. The defence showed she had also searched listings for free stuff and sex with strangers.

During a hearing last month, the jury heard an interview with Dutro’s seven-year-old daughter, who described how her mother and Canady punched Zachary until he “got dead.”

Dr Danny Leonhardt, who examined Zachary, said the boy had injuries similar to those seen in car crash victims and was covered in bruises, suggesting prolonged, repeated abuse.

Dr Leonhardt said he also saw Zachary’s three-year-old brother whose face was covered in scrapes. An exam later showed that the toddler had five broken ribs in various stages of healing.

Canady earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault for his role in the boy’s death.